The unpleasant odour extended from Redange-sur-Attert to Marnach, triggering different reactions among residents who likened it to being in the middle of a cabbage field or inside a litter tray.
A number of people reached out to our colleagues at RTL.lu to ask if they had any information on where the odour was coming from. However, there was also a lot of speculation on social networks.
In Mertzig, Mayor Mike Poiré, responding to numerous calls from worried citizens, contacted emergency services to investigate the situation. The mayor was informed of an incident at a biogas plant in Feulen, although emergency services indicated that the problem had been swiftly addressed. The municipality then issued a press release attributing the odour to a biogas plant in the vicinity. Following consultations, the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS) assured the public that there was no danger.
However, some biogas plant operators, including Christian Hahn from the Redange-sur-Attert facility, felt unfairly criticised. Hahn clarified that incidents at biogas plants typically pose minimal consequences, particularly if it involves a gas leak that dissipates into the air. He explained that if the odour results from added products, like dumped manure, it tends to be a temporary nuisance, similar to the occasional smell of fresh manure in a village.
Contrary to initial reports, Hahn suggested an alternative source for the distinct odour, likened to a mix of cabbage and cat urine. Drawing from past experiences, he mentioned a paper mill in Belgium, southwest of Virton, which had been known to emit an “acrid” odour.
And indeed, upon enquiry, the paper mill in question confirmed to our colleagues that there had been an incident on Monday that had led to the unpleasant smell experienced across northern Luxembourg.
